prelude

1 of 2

noun

pre·​lude ˈprel-ˌyüd 

ˈprāl-;

ˈpre-ˌlüd,

ˈprā-;

sense 1 also

ˈprē-ˌlüd 

1

: an introductory performance, action, or event preceding and preparing for the principal or a more important matter

2

a

: a musical section or movement introducing the theme or chief subject (as of a fugue or suite) or serving as an introduction to an opera or oratorio

b

: an opening voluntary

c

: a separate concert piece usually for piano or orchestra and based entirely on a short motif

prelude

2 of 2

verb

preluded; preluding

transitive verb

1

: to serve as a prelude to

2

: to play as a prelude

intransitive verb

: to give or serve as a prelude

especially : to play a musical introduction

preluder noun

Synonyms

Noun

• prologue
• preliminary
• overture

Examples of prelude in a Sentence

Noun

an eruption of sectarian violence that proved to be the prelude to all-out civil war

the musical had a brief prelude to get the audience in the proper mood

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In Danis Tanovic’s underseen drama, Farrell plays an Irish war photographer who gets separated from his best friend and colleague in Iraqi Kurdistan in the prelude to Saddam Hussein’s 1988 extermination campaign against the Kurds. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025

At first, the scene feels like an engrossing, elevating prelude. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

That, and the numerous MCU movies prior, was merely prelude to a monumental brawl against Thanos for all the marbles that may never be surpassed in sheer epicness. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 2025

What happened Monday night was past and prelude all at once. —Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere to play beforehand, from prae- + ludere to play — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

Noun

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1632, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing prelude

• chorale prelude

Rhymes for prelude

• accrued
• allude
• collude
• conclude
• construed
• debuted
• delude
• elude
• endued
• ensued
• eschewed
• etude

Kids Definition

prelude

1 of 2 noun

pre·​lude ˈprel-ˌ(y)üd  ˈprā-ˌl(y)üd 

1

: something that comes before and prepares for the main or more important parts

the wind was a prelude to the storm

2

a

: a short musical introduction (as to an opera)

b

: a musical piece (as an organ solo) played at the beginning of a church service

prelude

2 of 2 verb

preluded; preluding

: to give, play, or serve as a prelude